Over the past five years, Global’s Albany terminal has undergone hundreds of inspections by, among others, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Albany County Department of Health. None of those inspections have turned up any substantive violations.
Permits and Licenses
In Albany, Global has the following environmental permits and licenses:
State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit
Issued by the DEC, this permit establishes requirements related to the management and discharge of stormwater and wastewater from the terminal. The permit places strict limits on the levels of petroleum-related compounds and other water quality parameters. It also requires analysis of representative water samples on a monthly and quarterly basis. The results of those tests are submitted to the DEC in monthly monitoring reports. The permit is renewed every five years.
Major Oil Storage Facility (MOSF) License
Issued by the DEC, this license regulates the handling and storage of petroleum products. Along with state bulk petroleum storage (PBS) regulations, the license establishes standards relating to facility inspections, leak detection systems, storage tanks and oil spill containment systems. The license requires annual analysis of groundwater samples from site monitoring wells to look for the presence of petroleum releases from the facility. Those results are submitted to the DEC. Along with Federal Oil Spill Response regulations, this license requires the preparation of oil spill response plans that are submitted to the DEC, the USCG and the EPA for review and/or approval.
MOSF Reports
Chemical Bulk Storage (CBS) License
Issued by the DEC, this regulates the handling and storage of fuel additives and certain other chemicals stored at the terminal that are not already covered by the MOSF License. This and related chemical bulk storage regulations establish standards related to leak detection systems, the inspection and repair of storage tanks, the maintenance of spill containment systems and emergency response. The license is renewed every two years.
Title V Permit
Issued by the DEC under the Clean Air Act, this establishes requirements related to air emissions from the terminal. The permit limits the emissions of criteria pollutants and other regulated compounds and regulates the volume and types of petroleum products managed.
The permit also has strict conditions related to the maintenance, operation and testing of air pollution control equipment.
- Semi-annual and annual Compliance Certifications are submitted to DEC.
- An annual Air Emissions Statement is required.
- This permit is renewed every 5 years.
This spring, Global Partners is moving ahead with the process of renewing our air permit for our Albany Terminal. As part of this effort, we are proposing some changes to the terminal that respond to previous community input.
We’re committed to working with community members and stakeholders, elected officials, and regulatory agencies to ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Learn more about the permit renewal modification here.
